Why Does a Loving God Allow Evil in the World?
Romans 1:18-32
Intro:
1. ILL: Chuck Colson’s Breakpoint Commentary - Cassie Bernall.
2. Here are the reasons I believe a loving God allows evil in the world.
I. So that Spiritual Priorities Will Become Evident
A. You can get so wrapped up in this world that spiritual things are not your priority.
1. Your physical body.
a. Got to keep it healthy - eat the right diet & exercise regularly.
b. Got to keep it beautiful - you must look “presentable” with clothes & cosmetics.
2. Your income, source of money - employment, retirement, etc.
a. You either enjoy your work & spend more time doing it than you should.
b. You don’t enjoy your work & think a lot about finishing it so you can go home.
3. Your family.
a. You think about or worry a lot about your kids.
b. You get worried about your marriage relationship because it doesn’t meet your expectations.
4. Your recreation & your social life.
a. You live for your vacation & think about it a lot.
b. You work hard so you can buy things to enjoy & show off.
c. You live for your friendships & your parties. You party animal!
B. Why might you have these priorities?
1. Because you can see & experience these physical things.
2. Because the spiritual aspect of your life is kind of spooky, confusing & not immediately discernable. It requires you to live by faith - not by sight.
3. Because the practical, material side of your life pressures you to make decisions & act now!
C. BUT - the most important things in your life need to be the spiritual.
1. Because they are what will last forever - everything else is only temporary!
2. Because God created you to live in the spiritual realm - The physical is only your environment.
a. You were created in God’s image & likeness. - the spiritual.
b. But you choose to live like the “superior animal” science wants you to believe you are!
D. What evil does is make apparent how superior the spiritual priorities are to this old world!
II. So that the Light of Christ Can Shine in Darkness
Jn 3:19-21 - This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”
A. God is honored when you see the contrast between Cassie Barnall & her murderers!
1. Rom 1:20 - People generally know what’s good & right when they see it.
2. BUT - our culture is trying to present immorality & perversion as normal & acceptable - Rom 1:21-22.
a. California wants to make teaching homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle mandatory in our schools!
b. Abortions are pushed as the only viable alternative to unwanted or inconvenient pregnancies.
B. What evil does is to provide the darkness as a backdrop for the Light to shine in!
1. Hundreds of Christians were martyred in the coliseum in Rome - but thousands were persuaded to come to the Lord as a result.
2. The church was scattered & Stephen was martyred in Acts 7.
a. BUT - in Acts 8 the Samaritans received the gospel & the Ethiopian came to the Lord.
b. BUT - in Acts 9 Saul, who began the persecution in the first place, surrendered his life to the Lord & became the Apostle Paul!
III. So that God Can Have the Opportunity to Bring Good Out of It
Rom 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
A. All the issues, challenges & circumstances in your life will “work out together” to eventually bring out good.
1. Your life is like a tapestry woven in different colors.
2. Chances are - there are no chances in your life if you love the Lord. God always has His hand in it!
B. A Bible Example - The Man Born Blind (Jn 9:1-7).
1. v3 - “But this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”
2. This man was blind all of his life so that God would be glorified in this miraculous healing!
C. What evil does is to give you the opportunity to demonstrate the glory of God in your life by the way you handle it!
1. If you are the one who is suffering - by the way you honor God as you suffer.
2. If you are not the suffering one - how you come to the sufferer’s aid & help.
3. ILL: The Christmas Day Tsunami. How so many people came to the aid of the sufferers.
IV. So that People May Have a Clear Cut Choice
A. Eve chose what tasted good & was pleasing to the eyes (temporary pleasure) instead of obedience to God (the eternal). Notice the terrible consequences of that bad choice:
1. It led her husband astray & ultimately separated him emotionally from her - “It’s all her fault, Lord”
- Gen 3:12.
2. It separated man & woman from the animals after the ark lands - Gen 9:1-3.
3. It separated men from one another at the Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9).
B. When you make the choice to not give your life to the Lord - what do you give up?
1. You give up eternal life in heaven with God & abundant life right now here on earth. Instead you receive eternal life in Hell & only a mere existence here on earth.
2. You give up salvation from sin.
3. You give up having brothers & sisters all over the world.
4. You give up the joy of Christian service.
5. You give up the opportunity of learning God’s word which shows you how to live a better life.
6. You give up the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit in your life to help you live victoriously.
Why does a loving God allow evil in the world?
So you can plainly see
Good from bad
God from Satan
The Christian life from the life of this old world
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Rom 12:1-2
http://biblelifemessages.org/